Nostril Piercing Aftercare and Choosing Your First Piece
Healing a nostril piercing takes patience, particularly because its position on the face means it can easily be touched, caught or irritated during everyday routines such as washing your face, getting dressed or applying skincare.
Choosing appropriately fitted jewellery is just as important. The gauge, post length and jewellery style all affect how comfortably your nostril piercing sits while it heals, while hoops also need the right inner diameter once your piercing is ready for one.
Quick Answer: A nostril piercing typically takes around 4 to 6 months to heal, although some can take longer. During healing, keep your aftercare simple, avoid unnecessarily touching or moving the jewellery and don't rush your first jewellery change. Once fully healed, you can explore different nose studs and hoops that suit your anatomy, piercing placement and preferred look.
Jump to a section
- Choosing Your First Nostril Jewellery
- What to Expect While Your Nostril Heals
- Everyday Habits That Help Your Nostril Heal
- Nostril Piercing Aftercare
- When Can You Change Your Nostril Jewellery?
- Bottom Line
- FAQs
Choosing Your First Nostril Jewellery
The jewellery fitted when your nostril is first pierced is chosen to give it the best chance to heal comfortably. A professional piercer will select secure initial jewellery that's suitable for your anatomy and piercing placement, commonly a flatback labret or another appropriate nostril stud.
Fit is particularly important during healing. Your piercer will consider the gauge, which is the thickness of the jewellery passing through the piercing, and the post length needed to accommodate your anatomy and early swelling.
The material matters too. Implant-grade titanium is a popular option for initial piercing jewellery because it's lightweight, hypoallergenic and widely used for body jewellery.
Your initial jewellery is chosen primarily to support healing rather than simply for appearance. Once your piercing has fully healed, you'll have more freedom to explore flatback studs, L-shaped nose studs, nose screws, nose bones and hoops that suit your piercing and personal style.
What to Expect While Your Nostril Heals
A nostril piercing typically takes around 4 to 6 months to heal, although healing time varies from person to person and some piercings may take longer. Your piercing may begin to feel comfortable before the tissue inside has completely healed, so how it feels isn't always a reliable indication that it's ready for a jewellery change.
During the early stages, you may notice some tenderness, swelling or sensitivity around the piercing. Normal build-up can also develop around the jewellery as the piercing heals.
Healing isn't always linear. Your nostril may feel settled for a while before becoming slightly tender again after being bumped, caught or irritated, so continue treating it gently even when it appears to be healing well.
Everyday Habits That Help Your Nostril Heal
Because a nostril piercing sits in such an exposed position, small everyday habits can help reduce unnecessary irritation while it heals.
- Wash your hands before touching your nose or the area around your piercing.
- Take care when washing and drying your face so you don't catch or pull the jewellery.
- Avoid touching or playing with the jewellery unnecessarily.
- Be careful when getting dressed, particularly with clothing that needs to be pulled over your head.
- Take care when blowing or wiping your nose to avoid catching the jewellery.
- Keep skincare and make-up away from the piercing itself while it heals.
These small adjustments can help minimise unnecessary contact while giving your nostril piercing time to settle.
Nostril Piercing Aftercare
Nostril piercing aftercare doesn't need to be complicated. A simple routine and minimal handling can help protect the piercing while it heals.
- Clean with sterile saline using a pre-made wound wash containing 0.9% sodium chloride.
- Wash your hands before touching the area.
- Avoid twisting or rotating the jewellery, including while cleaning.
- Don't pick at any build-up around the piercing; allow it to soften and rinse away naturally.
- Avoid harsh cleaning products and unnecessary home remedies.
- Keep skincare and make-up away from the piercing where possible.
If you're concerned about how your nostril is healing, contact a professional piercer for advice. If you suspect an infection, seek appropriate medical advice and don't remove the jewellery unless advised to do so.
For more detailed advice on cleaning and caring for a fresh piercing, read our New Piercing Aftercare Guide.
When Can You Change Your Nostril Jewellery?
It can be tempting to change your jewellery as soon as your nostril starts to feel comfortable, but healing beneath the surface often takes longer. It's generally best to wait until your piercing is fully healed before changing the jewellery yourself.
Once healed, the measurements you need will depend on the type of jewellery you want to wear. For a nose stud or flatback labret, gauge and post length are important. Gauge refers to the thickness of the jewellery, while post length affects how closely the jewellery sits against your nose.
For a nostril hoop, you'll need to consider gauge and inner diameter. Inner diameter is measured across the inside of the hoop and influences how closely the ring sits around your nostril. The right nose ring size depends on both your anatomy and the exact position of your piercing.
If your initial post was fitted with extra room for swelling, a professional piercer may recommend downsizing once the swelling has reduced. Downsizing means replacing the longer initial post with a shorter, appropriately fitted one rather than simply waiting until the piercing is fully healed to change it yourself.
If you're unsure whether your piercing is ready for a change or which nostril jewellery size you need, ask a professional piercer to assess and measure your piercing.
Once your piercing is ready for a change, explore our Nostril Jewellery Guide: How to choose the right style for more inspiration.
Bottom Line
A nostril piercing typically takes around 4 to 6 months to heal, so give it plenty of time before changing the jewellery yourself. Keep your aftercare simple, minimise unnecessary contact and follow your piercer's advice about downsizing. Once fully healed, choose a nose stud or hoop with measurements that suit your anatomy, piercing placement and preferred fit.
FAQs
How long does a nostril piercing take to heal?
A nostril piercing typically takes around 4 to 6 months to heal, although some can take longer. A piercing can feel comfortable before the tissue inside has completely healed, so don't use the absence of tenderness alone as a sign that it's ready for a jewellery change.
When can I change my nostril piercing?
It's generally best to wait until your nostril piercing is fully healed before changing the jewellery yourself. If you're unsure whether it's ready, ask a professional piercer to assess it. Your piercer may change or downsize your jewellery earlier when necessary as part of the healing process.
What gauge is a nostril piercing?
Nostril piercing gauge refers to the thickness of the jewellery that passes through the piercing. There isn't one measurement you should assume for every nostril piercing, so check your existing jewellery or ask your piercer before buying a replacement.
What post length do I need for a nose stud?
The right nose stud post length depends on your anatomy, piercing placement and jewellery style. A post that's too short may put pressure on the tissue, while unnecessary excess length can make the jewellery easier to catch. If you're unsure, have your piercing professionally measured.
What size nose hoop do I need?
The right nose hoop size depends on your anatomy and the position of your piercing. Inner diameter determines how closely the hoop sits around your nostril, so the same size can fit differently from person to person. A professional piercer can measure your piercing if you're unsure which inner diameter you need.
How do I clean a nostril piercing?
Keep nostril piercing cleaning simple by using a pre-made sterile saline wound wash containing 0.9% sodium chloride. Avoid twisting or rotating the jewellery and don't pick at build-up around the piercing. If you're concerned about how your piercing is healing, contact a professional piercer for advice.
